Early budding has turned to leaves already. The lilacs opposite my window here are turning vague purple. They are getting ready. I have two rescue dogs this week. Both were throw away teenage males. One supposedly really aggressive who was a killer dog and one so naughty he could not be kept in. They are outside in my rescue *house* (a lovely 15 x 10 Kennel). They took the old dog bed apart so the entire floor is lined with snow and are lying arm in arm playing bite the head with one another. They will bark for breakfast in another 15 minutes or so. Makes me laugh to see them. They will be ready for homes soon. Funny how some loving and some boundaries helps. We will be starting these new classes the week of 4/4. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Doing the Program on a Budget is a special free class for those of you with limited funding who are trying to make do. Come hear some fun ideas to maintain your humor and find tasty and inexpensive solutions. Back to Basics 1 is the class for those who have been on Step 7 and got lost. If you are wobbling around, have relapsed or need a tune up, come connect. We are kind, funny and have a great get back on track process. We will be starting these new classes the week of 4/11. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Brain Chemistry: Beta Endorphin is one of our most popular classes. It will teach you the core of the science behind the program. This is the outline for a critical part of sugar sensitivity, why you act the way you do and what you can do to change it. I love this class and so do all the people who have taken it. Somehow BE rocks! Step 2 Journaling: An Introduction will teach you the basics of journaling. The class will give you step by step instructions in how to record your food and feelings in a way that gets you excited. Step 1 The Art of Breakfast is our foundation class to get you started. Learn all four parts of step 1 in a structured way. Learn how to progress through them with enjoyment. Let us support getting your program off to a fabulous start I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
April 2, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
Your journal will help you sort out whjat is really going on in your brain chemistry and body. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
Diane is coming back from Step 7 I've learned that relapse starts before I have some sugar. Even tho I wasn't eating sweets, my timing was off, my journal had closed and while sick I barely ate. When I got better, I still didn't want to eat my meals. I said,'Whups, my program is off. It's just a matter of time until sugar starts creeping back in' (which I once perceived as the beginning of a relapse). So I've gotten to be pretty smart about this, yeah? One would think..LOL. I wanted to blame it on being sick tho. Then Kathleen said, 'no, look deeper..look even further back.' And I saw that I had some things starting to slip months ago, slowy and silently (sneaky addict style). Relapse is progressive. Taking action, asking for guidance and doing the work has kept me out of bigger trouble for now and my program is getting stronger again, but yeah - relapse none the less. ********************************************************************
This recipe is a community favorite and has been for a long time. Everyone who tries it just loves it. Hope you do, too! Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Citrus and Mascarpone
The twice baked sweet potatoes are from Delicious Living Magazine ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. I joined YLD to help me do the steps. It made a huge difference--more than I can say. The YLD list is amazing--lots of very advanced people hang out there, and also newbies and middlebies. Also, the special YLD classes are just wonderful. They're only for YLD members and will cost a small fee. You will look at weight loss in a way you would never have imagined. It has spilled over into other areas of my life in a big way. The absolute best part is the chats. The newbie chat on Mondays is a great place to ask questions about the steps. The Wednesday chat has the latest information and inspiration from Kathleen herself, in real time. We come tumbling in from around the world to be together for an hour. Just awesome! So I highly recommend the YLD membership to everyone. It's been worth many, many times the price in the quality of my program. And I get very, very excited when I talk about it LOL. Jeannie If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. ********************************************************* ***********
**David's Corner **
David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen’s oldest son. 
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
From the RadiantEuro list - a regional list for anyone in Europe (or who maybe thinking about or planning a visit) who would like a fun list to share about life and doing the programme in Europe. Karen is on Step 7 and has a wonderful program. She recently had an exchange that I loved so much I asked if we could post it here. And if you are not familiar with why we love mice, do go and read the article on the C57 mice and learn about what it means to be a DBA mouse. From: Karen Watkins I was cleaning the feedroom (where I keep my horses feed and the tumble dryer and the freezer) and noticed mouse droppings on the bench. I had thought I'd seen a mouse earlier in the day - and I told my partner that clearly we had mice. He came to inspect the bench and agreed and wandered off towards the barn muttering, "I hate mices." He came back with a mouse trap. Now I hate mouse traps, especially finding mice in them but he promised he'd only set in when he was around and that he would check it regularly. Yesterday morning I was in the feed room and I glanced across at the mouse trap. The cheese had been very carefully - and obviously nibbled. But just around the edges so as not to trigger the trap and harm the mouse. I did laugh and told dp that it was clearly a DBA mouse. DP just gave me "the look" which clearly means "I have no idea what you are talking about, once again you are confirming my thoughts that you are very slightly mad and I'm just humouring you sweetie," and said he had a plan for that mouse. Later he came back with a bar of chocolate. Now we don't have chocolate in the house since I detoxed. I don't have any strong opinions about this but I've always figured it is better not in the house (smile) so I asked why and was told that mice cannot resist chocolate and it won't crumble like the cheese. Today the mouse has eaten the chocolate without springing the trap either - by carefully nibbling around the edge and leaving just a tiny bit. I am thinking this is a very DBA mouse, LOL. From: Yesim Özben LOLOL Karen, It must be a DBA mouse. A C57 mouse would have had to eat all of the chocolate. It wouldn't matter what he/she knew about traps. I love the way you interpret your partner's look "...that you are very slightly mad..." From: Karen Watkins Totally agree it is a DBA mouse. This morning DP came in from the feedroom and said, "I think I'll try an apple". "Ah," I said, "the only apples we have are the horse's apples." "That's ok," he replied. I was a bit puzzled, wondering why he wanted to eat one of the horse's apples as they are usually a bit bruised and battered. He said it wasn't for him but the mouse. "What happened to the chocolate idea?" I asked, and was told that twice the mouse had nibbled around the edge of chocolate and not got caught. "Where is the rest of the bar?" I asked. "I ate it," he replied! By now, I am beginning to laugh. He asked where the apples are - and I said the feedroom. By which time I was laughing really hard. If the apples are already in the feedroom why would this clever little DBA mouse who has so far eaten cheese and chocolate without disturbing the trap, even bother eating some apple on the trap? I think DBA mouse has the upper paw here! ********************************************************************
**Some Reflections on Autism** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. A number of you have asked me about autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and what you might do nutritionally? While I am not an expert in autism, I can outline some of the research that is being done and share my reflections on how it might fit together. You have the lived experience. Perhaps we can explore our way to some working solutions. I have often wondered about autism. A couple of years ago I got a gorgeous rescue golden retriever. Her people gave her up because she was a “behavioral problem”. I took her and then observed. She would not connect, made no eye contact, and spent her days immobile with her head under the bed. She collected all the dog toys and hoarded them with her there under the bed. She could not cope with new experiences. She was stubborn, willful and terrified of rain and thunder. I worked with her behaviorally for 6 months with no change made. Eventually, I took her to a homeopathic vet to see if he might offer some perspective. We met for an hour. He said, “I think she is autistic.” He had a remedy for her, but had to order it and said it would take 2 weeks. I figured while I was waiting, I would play with her food and see what happened. I did and in 3 days, this dog was transformed. She connected, she started wagging her tail, she started to play with the other dogs. Six months more and she was in a loving home being funny and loving. She is at times a little quirky, but they adore her and see her as a normal dog. The transformation got my attention. Science does not yet know specifically what autism is or how to treat it. Basically, researchers admit that they are trying stuff to see if it makes any difference. And of course, each field will believe that their way is the best way. Your job as a parent is to learn and make sense the best you can. As I started reading the literature, I found some intriguing connections. Autistic children generally have high levels of serotonin in their blood platelets, but the level of “free” serotonin was low. This means that somehow the serotonin that is in the blood gets bound to the platelets but extra does not float around. This may mean high serotonin in blood cells, but low serotonin in brain. One study suggests that this early high level could have an impact on the infant brain. Small babies do not have a formed blood-brain barrier; so high levels of serotonin could cross over and “knock out” or overload the brain. This would mean a dysfunction in the serotonin receptor system. Fewer receptor sites, or impaired receptor binding, could account for the strange combination of no impulse control and obsessive brain lock we see in autistic children. At any rate, think of impaired serotonin function in your children. It is complex and not really clear, but there is no question that serotonin in some form is implicated. Research also comments on the fact that autistic children have high beta-endorphin levels. The literature does not reference baseline beta-endorphin but talks about an exaggerated stress response. Measuring beta-endorphin evokes stress, so the high levels they see may be a function of the exaggerated stress reaction. Stress evokes BE, and generally serotonin modulates the spike. If the serotonin system is impaired, there could be nothing to tone the beta-endorphin spike down so there would be a constant spiking and crashing. Higher BE levels are associated with difficulty in bonding. BE is designed to kill pain, it creates “numb”. This can be life saving in a crisis, but it does not bode well for bonding. Children treated with a BE blocker actually had fewer autistic symptoms. Researchers used a drug called Naltrexone that sits in beta-endorphin receptor sites and does not allow the heightened BE reaction to charge the system. But it does nothing to heal it. I began thinking, what about food? What do we know and how might we design a food program for your kids. The variables we are working with:
Increase the protein to make sure that the brain has the amino acids it needs to make serotonin in the brain factory. This means regular and consistent protein. And yes, I know that most of your children only want to eat carbs. Think whey protein powder. Identify what proteins your kids are willing to try and use those creatively. Give your children a children’s formula of fish oil. Check the DHA formulation we have in the store. I love Nordic Naturals Products and think they are safe and very appropriate for your children. Ultimately, you will want to move your kids to a food plan that has no wheat, no hard-core dairy (whey protein powder is ok because it does not have casein), and no sugar. Get a subscription to the magazine Living Without (www.livingwithout.com). They are great about the no wheat, no dairy part. They do not understand about the no sugar part. Wheat and dairy contain opioid peptides and raise BE levels more. Sugar does the same. Obviously you will not do all of this at once. But you can take out things like soda and move incrementally towards the goal. Now, at this point, you are probably either laughing or recoiling in horror. You may be thinking, “Kathleen, that is a joke, my child only eats 2 things.” I realize we have some major logistics to get through. I am very pragmatic. But, if you knew that putting your child on a protein/veggies/oil food plan with a timed evening carb would create a profound improvement, wouldn’t you want to at least try? I know you have spent thousands of dollars and have tried 100 other things. We have nothing to lose. Let’s share and do problem solving together. And, of course, it is critical that YOU do the steps. You cannot even think of making these changes with your child unless you are totally steady. Let’s do it together. I am thinking of setting a group for you to share about these issues. Let me know what you think. And here are the citations. All of the abstracts are on Pub Med if you want to read them. Go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? Akbari, H. M., H. K. Kramer, et al. (1992). "Prenatal cocaine exposure disrupts the development of the serotonergic system." Brain Res 572(1-2): 57-63. Anderson, G. M., D. X. Freedman, et al. (1987). "Whole blood serotonin in autistic and normal subjects." J Child Psychol Psychiatry 28(6): 885-900. Anderson, G. M., A. W. Zimmerman, et al. (2004). "Autism clinical trials: biological and medical issues in patient selection and treatment response." CNS Spectr 9(1): 57-64. Blum, I., Y. Vered, et al. (1992). "The influence of meal composition on plasma serotonin and norepinephrine concentrations." Metabolism 41(2): 137-40. Buitelaar, J. K. (2003). "Why have drug treatments been so disappointing?" Novartis Found Symp 251: 235-44; discussion 245-9, 281-97. Bursztejn, C., P. Ferrari, et al. (1988). "[Metabolism of serotonin in autism in children]." Encephale 14(6): 413-9. Cazzullo, A. G., M. C. Musetti, et al. (1999). "Beta-endorphin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and long-term naltrexone treatment in autistic children." Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 9(4): 361-6. Chugani, D. C. (2004). "Serotonin in autism and pediatric epilepsies." Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 10(2): 112-6. Cook, E. H., Jr., R. C. Arora, et al. (1993). "Platelet serotonin studies in hyperserotonemic relatives of children with autistic disorder." Life Sci 52(25): 2005-15. Hollander, E., A. Phillips, et al. (2005). "A placebo controlled crossover trial of liquid fluoxetine on repetitive behaviors in childhood and adolescent autism." Neuropsychopharmacology 30(3): 582-9. Humble, M., S. Bejerot, et al. (2001). "Reactivity of serotonin in whole blood: relationship with drug response in obsessive-compulsive disorder." Biol Psychiatry 49(4): 360-8. Leboyer, M., A. Philippe, et al. (1999). "Whole blood serotonin and plasma beta-endorphin in autistic probands and their first-degree relatives." Biol Psychiatry 45(2): 158-63. McBride, P. A., G. M. Anderson, et al. (1989). "Serotonergic responsivity in male young adults with autistic disorder. Results of a pilot study." Arch Gen Psychiatry 46(3): 213-21. McCauley, J. L., L. M. Olson, et al. (2004). "Linkage and association analysis at the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) locus in a rigid-compulsive subset of autism." Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 127(1): 104-12. Moore, M. L., S. F. Eichner, et al. (2004). "Treating functional impairment of autism with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors." Ann Pharmacother 38(9): 1515-9. Mulder, E. J., G. M. Anderson, et al. (2004). "Platelet serotonin levels in pervasive developmental disorders and mental retardation: diagnostic group differences, within-group distribution, and behavioral correlates." J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 43(4): 491-9. Nabi, R., F. J. Serajee, et al. (2004). "Association of tryptophan 2,3 dioxygenase gene polymorphism with autism." Am J Med Genet 125B(1): 63-8. Nader, R., T. F. Oberlander, et al. (2004). "Expression of pain in children with autism." Clin J Pain 20(2): 88-97. Nagamitsu, S., T. Matsuishi, et al. (1997). "CSF beta-endorphin levels in patients with infantile autism." J Autism Dev Disord 27(2): 155-63. Palermo, M. T. and P. Curatolo (2004). "Pharmacologic treatment of autism." J Child Neurol 19(3): 155-64. Ross, D. L., W. M. Klykylo, et al. (1987). "Reduction of elevated CSF beta-endorphin by fenfluramine in infantile autism." Pediatr Neurol 3(2): 83-6. Sandman, C. A. (1988). "Beta-endorphin disregulation in autistic and self-injurious behavior: a neurodevelopmental hypothesis." Synapse 2(3): 193-9. Scifo, R., M. Cioni, et al. (1996). "Opioid-immune interactions in autism: behavioural and immunological assessment during a double-blind treatment with naltrexone." Ann Ist Super Sanita 32(3): 351-9. Sodhi, M. S. and E. Sanders-Bush (2004). "Serotonin and brain development." Int Rev Neurobiol 59: 111-74. Spivak, B., P. Golubchik, et al. (2004). "Low platelet-poor plasma levels of serotonin in adult autistic patients." Neuropsychobiology 50(2): 157-60. Tordjman, S., G. M. Anderson, et al. (1997). "Plasma beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and cortisol in autism." J Child Psychol Psychiatry 38(6): 705-15. Tordjman, S., C. Antoine, et al. (1999). "[Study of the relationships between self-injurious behavior and pain reactivity in infantile autism]." Encephale 25(2): 122-34. Vered, Y., P. Golubchik, et al. (2003). "The platelet-poor plasma 5-HT response to carbohydrate rich meal administration in adult autistic patients compared with normal controls." Hum Psychopharmacol 18(5): 395-9. Whitaker-Azmitia, P. M. (2005). "Behavioral and cellular consequences of increasing serotonergic activity during brain development: a role in autism?" Int J Dev Neurosci 23(1): 75-83. Whitaker-Azmitia, P. M., M. Druse, et al. (1996). "Serotonin as a developmental signal." Behav Brain Res 73(1-2): 19-29. Whitaker-Azmitia, P. M., L. J. Molino, et al. (1990). "Serotonergic agents restore appropriate decision-making in neonatal rats displaying dopamine D1 receptor-mediated vacillatory behavior." Eur J Pharmacol 180(2-3): 305-9. Whitaker-Azmitia, P. M., A. V. Shemer, et al. (1990). "Role of high affinity serotonin receptors in neuronal growth." Ann N Y Acad Sci 600: 315-30. Willemsen-Swinkels, S. H., J. K. Buitelaar, et al. (1996). "Plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in people with learning disability and self-injurious and/or autistic behaviour." Br J Psychiatry 168(1): 105-9. ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2007. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster, puts it all together Naomi gathers the recipes. David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm. ©2007 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Patti Holden, Step 7 |
